Reducing the sentencing from 23 to 18 years, Van Amstel
said Croeser was a dedicated policeman with an excellent record. He was not a
criminal in the ordinary sense of the word. There was a suggestion that he had
an anger problem and had undertaken to go for counselling.

When he and his wife were in the pub, the couple appeared
to be comfortable together and were sitting close together. In the absence of
premeditation, something must have happened which sparked the attack.

This and the large number of stab wounds suggested an
explosion of rage, Van Amstel said.